Tin opener



April! 1, 192%. M. PATERMANN 3 TIN OPENER Filed Aug. 4, 1927 //7 WEN/LOP M qzgarman r7 Patented Apr. 16, 1929..

PATENT OFFICE.

MYRO PATERMANN, OF ZEHLENDORF, GERMANY.

TIN OPENER.

Application filed August 4, 1927, Serial No.

This invention relates to tin openers of the kind intended, for opening tins, the more or less liquid contents of which are not to be consumed immediatel after the tin has been opened, but gradual y in small quantities, such, for instance, as sterilized milk or cream and similar products.

For opening such tins with as little danger as possible, tin openers have been proposed consisting of a metal plate or bar having spikes fixed to its lower side by riveting or formed from it by punching. With these tin openers two openings or holes are formed in the cover by a blow or the application of pressure, so that, after the spikes have been withdrawn, the liquid contents of the tin can flow out, on the tin being tilted to a suitable extent. By replacing the spikes the tin opener may be used again for hermetically closing the opened tin.

It has been found that with certain substances, such a hermetical closure of the tin after it has once been opened results immediately or after a very short time in the contents of the tin becoming mouldy.

For overcoming this drawback, the tin opener according to the present invention is so constructed that on the one hand it enables the tin to be opened in an economical and safe manner by producing by pressure or by a blow a plurality of holes, and on the other hand protects the holes thus formed against the penetration of dirt and insects, while per mitting the circulation of air which prevents the contents of the tin from becoming mouldy. This result is obtained according to the present invention by the punching members for forming holes in the cover of the tin being made hollow, so that through the hollow space in them air can enter and leave, that is to say a circulation of air can take place inside the tin through the holes.

The accompanying drawing represents a tin opener according to the present invention,

Fig. l being a perspective view and Fig. 2 a section through a tin with the tin opener in position.

210,696, and in Germany February 5, 1927.

The tin opener has the known form of a metal bar a of medium width with bent over portions 6 at the ends, the length of the middle portion a corresponding to the diameter of the tin c to be opened. On its under side the metal bar a is provided with two piercers for piercing the cover of the tin, which according to the invention consist of two pointed tongues d and e stamped out of the metal bar at. These. tongues have their pointed ends bent towards each other, so that together they form a hollow piercer.

For opening the tin the tin opener is placed on the cover of the tin, the lateral bent over portions 7) acting as guides. By applying pressure or by a few light blows the piercers are thereupon driven into the cover of the tin, as shown in Fig. 2, so that two holes of sulficient size are formed in the cover, through which the contents of the tin, which are in some cases fairly viscous, can flow out.

For closing the opened tin the tin opener is replaced onthe cover with its two piercers in the holes of the latter, asshown in Fig. 2. The contents of the tin are thus protected,

while air can penetrate in the tin, so that a circulation of air can take place, which will prevent the contents of the tin from becoming mouldy.

What I claim is:

A tin opener capable of serving as a closure device for a tin opened by it, comprising a metal plate or bar having piercing members formed by pairs of pointed tongues stam ed from the said plate, the said tongues bemgj bent downwardly from the plate and having the points of each pair bent towards one another so as to enclose a hollow space between the tongues which is open at the sides for ventilating the tin when the tin opener is serving as a closure device.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MYRO PATERMANN. 

